Counsel by day and event planner by night, Jenneh Buya Kamara moves with poise through legal matters while bringing the same energy to her events. Her natural talent for creating memorable experiences led Jenneh to the event planning industry, where she saw a gap she could fill with her creativity.
Turning her passion into a business, Jenneh has grown Jay’s Wedding and Event Planning into a thriving venture where contracts meet confetti. Through her leadership, she collaborates with her team to bring clients’ ideas to life, showing that teamwork and innovation drive real impact. Her work reflects the spirit of Give To Gain, demonstrating how collaboration benefits the wider community.
According to the Women, Business and the Law initiative, “When women move forward, entire economies move forward.” Jenneh lives this truth as an entrepreneur, using her gifts to build a business that generates resources and contributes to Sierra Leone’s economic growth, all while soon celebrating a decade at the Bar.
To gain insight into her world, this author sought an audience with Jenneh Buya Kamara, exploring how creativity, discipline, and leadership shape her work in event planning.
What inspired you to pursue a career in event planning, and what drew you specifically to this creative industry?
“My inspiration has always come from within. I discovered that creating beauty and memorable experiences comes effortlessly to me. What drew me into the creative industry was recognizing that there was a void I needed to fill.”
Can you share the story behind starting your company and what this journey has meant to you personally and professionally?
“The story is simple. I just turned what I love doing into a business, and it has shaped my mind in new ways. It has made me extremely hardworking, vigilant, disciplined, creative, and so much more. This journey has helped me tremendously, both personally and professionally.”
What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur and business leader?
“The event industry is highly competitive, especially with new decorative items being produced in China every day. It often feels impossible to keep up, as almost all the items we use are sourced abroad, making shipping expensive. There are also challenges with delivery, staff, printing, and many other logistics. Despite this, my company has stayed afloat because we view every obstacle as a challenge to overcome.”
How do you balance client expectations, creativity, and logistical planning to deliver such memorable events?
“I have trained my team to be disciplined, especially when it comes to time. We are dealing with clients who have paid for our services, and they expect nothing but the best. For creativity and logistical planning, we always plan early, and I make sure to engage with my clients to understand exactly how they want the final result to look. From that, I know everything that needs to be done to make the venue look spectacular.”
Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope Jay’s Wedding and Event Planning will leave in Sierra Leone’s event industry?
“Jay’s Wedding is a business I hope to pass down to my children. I see myself as a steppingstone, laying the foundation so they can achieve even more. My impact is already felt in the creative industry. You cannot mention five decorators in Sierra Leone without mentioning Jay’s Wedding and Event Planning. I have also helped many women find their footing in this business through mentorship and guidance.”
Championing Entrepreneurship for Women
What began as a natural interest has grown into Jay’s Wedding and Event Planning, a thriving business that reflects Jenneh’s hard work, discipline, and innovation.
Her work mirrors Sierra Leone’s broader reforms to promote female entrepreneurship and financial inclusion. Key measures introduced by the government include the Directives on Provision of Financial Services on a Non-Discriminatory Basis (2021), the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2022), the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (2022–2026), and the Employment Act (2023).
Jenneh’s example underscores the importance of advancing research, policy dialogue, and development initiatives that build sustainable legal and policy frameworks for women’s empowerment, which are essential for fostering inclusive economic growth.
By building a successful business and collaborating closely with her team, Jenneh contributes to putting these reforms into practice. She embodies the Give To Gain principle, showing how creativity, leadership, and teamwork can create real impact while supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to expand opportunities for women.
To learn more about Jay’s Wedding and Event Planning, visit: https://www.facebook.com/p/Jays-wedding-and-Event-Planning-100064888022617/
